‘Wise Guy' Whale Pranks Tourists With an Epic Splash
Unfortunately for me, I've never had the chance to see a whale up close. I've loved them since I first learned about them, and I've always wanted to see one of them, but for now, I have to live vicariously through others. Luckily, the internet makes that easy.
Recently, a boat full of tourists was out on the water, hoping to catch a glimpse of some marine life, and in particular, they were hoping to see some whales. Evidently, one whale wanted to teach the tourists to be careful what they wish for:
@seataceans Looks like we got a wise guy. *engines off, close approach initiated by the whale - respect wildlife! #humpback#whale#whalewatching
original sound - banned_shannon
This is not the first time Captain Delaney has ever seen a whale, but it is the first time a whale has done something like this to her boat. In the caption, she clearly states that the engine is off, meaning the propeller wasn't going, and the whale is the one who got close to the boat, not the other way around.
They're a lot calmer than I would be: something that big being so close to the boat would definitely scare me! However, this whale didn't want any trouble... Okay, maybe a little, he flaps his tail and splashes a bunch of water on them. It wasn't a small splash, either. A couple of them got soaked!
Related: Massive Whale Shark Creeps Up Behind a Swimmer and It's Intense
Delaney is a captain, often taking tourists out on the water to spot whales, but she's also a wildlife photographer. She's gotten a ton of really cool shots, and they're super close-up:
@seataceans Eat your fish. #whale#whalewatching#ocean
original sound - Debra
Any time they're this close to a whale (or any sea life), they make sure the engines are off. They want to avoid scaring or injuring any of the animals, and that's part of how they're able to get so close! The rest of the contact is initiated by the animals, if they'd like.
Do Whales See Humans?
Splashing a wall of water onto a literal boatload of tourists feels intentional, if you ask me. It feels like this whale sees boats like this often. Maybe there was someone who rubbed him the wrong way, or he just wanted to play!
Whales definitely do see and recognize humans, especially if they frequent areas where humans are. Some species, like Orcas, have even been observed offering some of their food to humans! They're incredibly curious, which often means they'll:
- Approach boats closely
- Splash the boats
- Surface close to them
If a whale is approaching your boat, the best thing to do is keep calm and take it in: turn off the engine and just watch. Never touch them, either, even if they're close enough to splash you until you're soaked down to your socks!
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This story was originally published June 15, 2026 at 2:00 PM.